May 12, 2025

More Reaction to U.S.-U.K. Trade Agreement

The National Corn Growers Association applauded the new bilateral trade agreement that increases access for American agricultural products to the United Kingdom, including ethanol. During the announcement, officials indicated tariffs on U.S. ethanol will drop to zero. “This is great news,” says NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr. “We hope they continue to include corn and ethanol in future bilateral agreements.” The deal will create an opportunity of up to $5 billion in new exports for U.S. farmers. “It is a huge win that will allow further expansion into our second-largest market for ethanol,” says U.S. Grains Council President and CEO Ryan LeGrand. “It’s a crucial step forward in the positive relationship between the two countries.” It’s especially great news for ethanol after recent record American ethanol exports to the U.K. “We could see another record that will benefit American farmers, biofuel producers, and U.K. consumers,” says Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. 
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Tariffs Weighing on Exporter Profits

Global trading companies like Archer-Daniels-Midland and Bunge are reporting that tariff uncertainties and trade questions have taken a toll on first-quarter profits. Reuters says those companies also say continued tariff and trade uncertainty could affect their bottom lines through the rest of this year. ADM posted its weakest first-quarter profit in five years and warned of diminished returns due to President Donald Trump’s efforts to “redraw the global markets.” Grain trader and processor Bunge Global posted a smaller-than-expected first-quarter profit drop as anxiety over rising tariffs boosted export demand for its products. Bunge also reaffirmed its prior 2025 earnings guidance but said its outlook for agribusiness, its largest segment, would be weaker than previously expected. If realized, it would be Bunge’s worst annual profit since 2019. Crop handler Andersons Inc. saw tariffs and port fees upend trade and put pressure on its first-quarter results. 
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Rollins Leads Trade Delegation to Promote American Ag

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins will visit the United Kingdom this week, just days after the U.S. and U.K. announced a trade agreement in principle was in place between the two countries. “I’m traveling to the U.K. on my first foreign mission to meet with my counterparts and discuss the commitments of this new deal,” Rollins said. “It’s our goal to achieve even closer relations with the U.K., and we are thankful for the agreement that gives our farmers, ranchers, and food processors increased market access in the United Kingdom.” Rollins will meet with U.K. government officials, visit facilities importing U.S. agricultural products, and talk with U.K. importers about how to best position U.S. products in that market. Following the visit to the U.K., Rollins will travel to Japan, Vietnam, Brazil, Peru, Italy, and India over the next five months. Other USDA trade missions include Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, Taiwan, and Mexico.
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NTCA Applauds Bill to Lower Broadband Costs

NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association applaud the introduction of the “Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act.” The legislation directs the Federal Communications Commission to require broadband service providers to contribute to the Universal Service Fund. “NCTA applauds the introduction of the Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act, which would promote more predictable and stable funding to preserve and advance the statutory mission of universal service,” says NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield.  “As traditional telecommunications revenues decline, the assessment on the remaining consumers of such services increases, resulting in a disproportionate burden on those consumers even though they are not the most significant users of services or beneficiaries of underlying networks.” She also says common-sense reforms like those directed by this legislation will shore up the foundation of universal service funding and will ultimately help low-income and rural consumers, schools, and other rural facilities that depend on critical universal service programs. 
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NCBA Hiring Interns for Fall 2025

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association announced that applications are open for three unique internship experiences in the fall 2025 semester. “NCBA represents cattle farming and ranching families nationwide, and interning for us is a great way to gain professional skills while serving American agriculture,” says NCBA President Buck Wehrbein (WHERE-byne), a Nebraska cattleman. “If you want to learn more about communications, public policy, or meetings and events, I encourage you to apply and use your skills to help NCBA fulfill our vision of being the trusted leader and definitive voice for the U.S. cattle and beef industry.” The opportunities include a new Organizational Communications Internship in Centennial, Colorado, supporting NCBA’s social media strategy, TV production, and producer communications. There’s a Public Policy Internship in Washington, D.C., that supports NCBA’s Government Affairs Team, and a Meetings and Events Internship in Centennial, Colorado, that will support the operations of large- and small-scale events.  
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Coalition Advocates for More Conservation Funding

The National Association of Conservation Districts wrote to leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, urging robust support for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s operations budget. With the support of more than 120 conservation and agriculture groups, NACD requested $1.2 billion in FY 2026 Conservation Operations Funding and urged Congress to reject any changes in mandatory spending for farm bill conservation programs. Conservation Operations funds Conservation Technical Assistance nationwide. It also funds important programs like soil surveys, snow surveys, water supply forecasting, and more. “With 60 percent of our nation’s lands in private ownership, our ability to achieve landscape-scale conservation goals requires the voluntary cooperation of millions of farmers, ranchers, and forest stewards who manage these lands,” says NACD President Gary Blair. “At a time when producers are facing extreme challenges from the farm economy and weather impacts, conservation helps increase the resilience of their lands and has economic benefits.” 
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